Yes yes y’all. Seattle hiphop just continues to seep out into the
national consciousness like an unexpected Olestra emergency—only
better! Peep this month’s XXL magazine, where Stranger music editor Eric Grandy gets his Gucci carpetbag on, using a review of
Lupe Fiasco‘s Showbox show to highlight the simmering Seattle
scene—and throw a mention of 206 crews such as Blue
Scholars, Dyme Def, and the Physics in for good
measure. Meanwhile, D-Deffer Brainstorm has just premiered a new
track featuring (on the verge of ex-) G-Unitarian Young Buck,
and not only brought a heatery track,
but managed to outshine Mr.
Tenakey with his swaggadelic vocals.
On Thursday, March 13, you have a choice of two serious bills
stuffed to the rafters with NW talent. You can’t lose either way, but
read up and make your selection. Or if your teleportation game is on
point, do what it do.
Down at the Showbox Sodo is Style Out—a great big
smorgasbord of some of SEA’s finest: Alpha P, the
Physics, Orbitron (with DJ Tecumseh), DJ
B-Girl, Mind Movers, the Elefaders, Circle of
Fire, B.Y.C. Crew, and DJ Punish all represent, with
’nuff special guests, giveaways, pyrotechnics, and what have you. Says
the show’s promoter, Alpha P generalissimo and storied Seattle fixture
Asun: “As a father of five, a performing teaching artist, and
member of the Universal Zulu Nation in conjunction with Hip Hop
Congress, I hope to change the way so-called ‘backpack rappers’ and
‘gangster rappers’/’hood representatives’ interact with each other, in
an act of unification through similar situations and purpose.” The
whole shebang is also going to be a DVD as well, so if you’re going
down there, take that stupid hat off!
That very night, up a ways in Fremont at Nectar, is the reason I
can’t attend Style Out—a very dope show consisting of
Neema, Cancer Rising, Certified, Tacoma’s Mr.
D.O.G., and Portland OG Cool Nutz (with Maniac Lok and DJ Chill). Nutz’s latest joint, King Cool Nutz, is to
me bar none his best work yet, and I’ve been listening at least since
the ’97 G-Ism album. (Don’t snooze on the
B.G.–featuring “Rude Boyz” off Maniac’s album Turf
Bread and Street Cred, either.) Being the King of Southeast
Portland ain’t easy—consider the mainstream perception of hiphop
we’ve had to fight here in Seattle, then multiply it by 10. Then add to
the equation Nutz’s brand of hood hop, which isn’t nearly as
media-friendly as the positive works of say, Blue Scholars. So
Portland’s biggest act—besides Lifesavas—ends up not
getting a third of the love he should in his own town. Luckily, sales
have shown that Seattle loves the shit outta some Cool Nutz (fresh off
a Scandinavian tour), so all y’all make sure you get it over to Nectar
and show it, damnit. Show and prove. 